What, Why, and How?
14
Articles
GRAMMAR
Articles
What are they?
The English language has definite (“the”) and indefinite articles (“a” and “an”). The use depends on
whether you are referring to a specific member of a group (definite) or to any member of a group
(indefinite).
Indefinite Articles: “a” and “an”
Definite Article: “the”
You will use an indefinite article when
referring to any member of a group or
one your readers are not yet familiar
with.
You will use the definite article when
referring to a specific member of a
group.
The indefinite article “a” is used when the The consonant and vowel rules that
apply to “a” and “an” do not apply to the
word following it (which may be a noun
or an adjective) begins with a consonant use of “the.”
or with a consonant sound.
o the neighbor’s dog
o a dog
o the nice nephew
o a computer
o the mooing cows
o a onetime sale
o the building
o the red hairdryer
The indefinite article “an” is used when
o the airplane
the word following it begins with a vowel
(a, e, i, o, or u).
o an apple
o an ellipsis
o an umbrella
If you were to say, “Juan set his keys on
a table,” it would tell the reader that Juan
chose any table, an unspecific table, one
of many.
If you were to say, “Juan set his keys on
the table,” it would tell the reader that
Juan chose a specific table, one you
may have already mentioned.
If you were to say, “Marcus goes
swimming in a lake on Fridays,” the
reader understands that which lake
Marcus chose really isn’t important, and
might even change from week to week.
If you were to say, “Marcus goes
swimming in the lake on Fridays,” the
reader understands that it is a specific
lake, and that he goes to the same
place each week.
Plural Indefinite Article - some
You will use the word “some” before a plural noun (or its modifying adjective):
o some hairs
o some boxes
The singular: I put all of my clothes in a box I found in the basement.
The plural: I put all of my clothes in some boxes I found in the basement.
Plural Nouns
Plural nouns do not require an indefinite article: “I love apples,” instead of “I love an apples.” (You
must use the definite article if you have already introduced the idea or are referring to a specific
member of a group: “I love the apples grown across the street.”)
Non-count Nouns
Non-count nouns, which include concepts and ideas that cannot be counted in number, may or may
not require an article: no one hard and fast rule applies. You can write “Kindness spreads like
wildfire,” instead of “A kindness spreads like wildfire,” or “The kindness spreads like wildfire” (unless
you are referring to a specific kindness mentioned elsewhere in your writing, as in “the kindness you
showed me”).
Proper Nouns
Proper nouns, which name a particular person, place or thing, sometimes take the article “the” and
sometimes do not.
o Soda is damaging to your teeth, but everyone still drinks it.
o The soda in my cup is flat, so I think I will throw it out.
o We are going to meet at the White House.
Do not use “the” before:
o names of countries (except the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and the United
States)
o names of cities, towns or states
o names of streets
o names of lakes and bays (except a group of lakes—the Great lakes)
o names of mountains (except mountain ranges—the Rockies)
o names of continents
o names of islands (except island chains—the Canary islands)
Do use “the” before:
o
o
o
o
names of rivers, oceans and seas
points on the globe
geographical areas
deserts, forests, gulfs and peninsulas
Adapted from:
http://www.owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslart.html 3/14/06 – 10:00AM &
The Brief Holt Handbook, Fourth Edition, Kirszner & Mandell, 2004
PRACTICE
Exercise 1 – Definite and Indefinite Articles
Fill in the blank for each sentence using either a, an, or the, or leave the space blank if none is
needed.
Example:
I was going to
the
beach where my cousin Willie lost his board in the waves.
1. Last week _______ seagull dropped his fish onto my car.
2. Maria took out _______ garbage before reading.
3. _______ surfboard cut through the waves as she sped toward the beach.
4. Sculpture is _______ interesting art form, whether in metal, clay or uranium.
5. I love picnics—especially when I remember _______ food.
6. My house is falling apart, _______ shutters are in disrepair, and _______ windows are broken.
7. The brothers met to discuss _______ possible solution.
8. I went to the lab to work on _______ computer, but they were all taken.
9. Well, professor, _______ alien came and stole my gray matter before I could finish my
homework.
10. This semester _______ same student violated his restraining order.
11. She passed him to avoid _______ confrontation involving _______ police.
12. I want to go to _______ part of Ukraine where they speak _______ Russian dialect.
13. The assistants found _______ theme that meant the most to them, and they wove it carefully
into _______ handbook they could be proud of.
14. _______ airplane’s tires skidded down _______ Los Angeles Airport’s main runway before
knocking out _______ baggage cart and _______ fuel truck.
15. I am studying _______ American history in school, but only after I pass my Biology class and
ace _______ final exam.
ANSWERS
Articles Answer Key
Exercise 1 – Definite and Indefinite Articles
Fill in the blank for each sentence using either a, an, or the, or leave the space blank if none is
needed.
a
1. Last week
the
2. Maria took out
3.
The
seagull dropped his fish onto my car.
garbage before reading.
surfboard cut through the waves as she sped toward the beach.
4. Sculpture is
an
interesting art form, whether in metal, clay or uranium.
5. I love picnics—especially when I remember
the
6. My house is falling apart,
a
7. The brothers met to discuss
8. I went to the lab to work on
9. Well, professor,
an
10. This semester
the
the
food.
shutters are in disrepair, and
the
.
windows are broken.
possible solution.
computer, but they were all taken.
alien came and stole my gray matter before I could finish my homework.
11. She passed him to avoid
12. I want to go to
a
the
same student violated his restraining order.
a
confrontation involving
part of Ukraine where they speak
the
a
police.
Russian dialect.
13. The assistants found
the
theme that meant the most to them, and they wove it carefully
into
a
handbook they could be proud of.
14.
The
airplane’s tires skidded down
knocking out
a
baggage cart and
X
a
Los Angeles Airport’s main runway before
fuel truck.
15. I am studying
X
American history in school, but only after I pass my Biology class and
ace
the
final exam.